North Carolina Newspapers

; ; ;i A, ...'., - ... t...;--... . : : t ....... .- , . , . : - -:. :. - , -Uvrmm WEATHER. North and South Car olina, continued warm tonight; Wednesday un settled, probably local rains. rNTTTr l-UJtl THE STORE 'AOS Bring news reports from the stores. Read them. FULL LEASED WIRE SERVICE VOL. XXIV. No. 84 WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA. TUESDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 2-1918 PRICE FIVE CEN1S .1! f -1 . Week The - .-4 FKtFAKim F0 A- ' AMERICAN -TROOPS GREAI BATTLE ON .- SPm v tmwm ntAIRD s TO Infantry Operations Have Died Down While Armies Get Their Breath GERMANS WAIT FOR GUNS TO COME UP Seventy-seven Divisions Are Waiting for Artillery to Open Road for Fur ther Assaults Infantry operations on a large scale oa the Picardy batQePeld have died down, while both sides are prepar ing for the great conflict. Various fighting has occurred be tween Albert and Montdidler, but the Germans have been checked in all at tempts, to advance toward Amiens, while the Franco-British troops have made small gains between the Somme end Dimiun. . , In the days of 'desperate and san guinary fighting since they launched their attacks on the line before Cam- brai, SJ. Quentin and LaFere, the ; German command apparently has learned that massed infantry attacks without great artillery preparations are fruitless and most costly. The German artillery fire is reported to be weak, indicating that the enemy has not yet been able to move his big guns across the barren region between .Qintin and Albert . . Seventy-seven; German divisions are on the battle line waiting for the guns attempting another gigantic- ef fort to rfeackfeAmtepSy. cotl of the Somme theref?edrn!lf 37 are on" the line v betweei the .Somme and Caummy Chauny. It is known that the German guns have not all been moved forward. Meanwhile the Allied armies under General Foch are maJMfcg ready not only to counter another German blow which the enemy must make or con cede defeat, but probably also for a counter offensive. American troops not unlikely will participate in the ap proaching renewal of heavy fighting along most of the line as more than 100,000 are moving toward the battle lines. Some unseasoned American units will be placed side by side with hardened British and French veterans, according to a decision announced in London. . , The Germans are reported to be massing troops before Albert, ' where their attacks were beaten back by the British Monday. The British com mand looks for heavy German efforts north of the Somme, where it is be lieved the, enemy has most of his fighting force, but where there has been no marked activity since the repulse at Arras Thursday. Except for the activity at Albert the fighting has been confined to the line between the Somme and Mont- didier. The Allied " troops have re claimed some ground between the Somme and Demiun, while between Hangard and Moreuil heavy German attacks were beaten off with loss. German attempts against Grivesnes, Northwest of -Montdidier, were re pulsed sanguinarily by the French. Artillery exchanges continue on the rest of the front in France, including the American sector near Toul and on the Italian front. The Austro-Ger-man artillery fire against the Italian lines is moderate and there are yet no indications that the enemy is ready to launch his attack with the many thousands-of'troops reported to' have been brought from the Eastern theatre. In the three Caucasus districts ced pd to Turkey by Russia in the peace reaty with the Central povers heavy fighting has broken out. The Arme i;an and Georgian-inhabitants of this prritory are defending themselves sainst the Turks who are attempt "i , military occupation. WOMEN CHAUFFERS ON LONG JOURNEY , Lansing, MIclu, April 2. To demon strate what women are doing to help Prosecute the war, nine young women chauffeurs attired- in military uni forms, were to leave here today, each driving an army' truck 1 with govern ment supplies for Atlanta. Six- of the young women are;neni 'oers of a motor truck company of the Georgia State Guard, and threje are from New York. All are members of the National League for Women Serv ice. The group is in command of Cap-'-ain K. T. Harrington, of Atlanta. Mexican Congress Mets. Mexico City, April 2. The extraor dinary session of the Mexican Con gress, called by President Carranza, opened formally yesterday. It will fnact laws for the election of cfepnties ln September and for the next nre"slr iential election. ; , ' , ' '- ate Attack ' . THE LH OF BAM OF Carefully Arranged, Plana for Advancing and Cap turing Positions Ottawa, April 2. A German order captured y on the battlefield, says Reu ter's 1 correspondent, telegraphing from French headquarters in France, describes the order of battle of a Ger. man division in the present offensive as follows: "The division advances in two ( reg imental groups progressing side by side. The first line of each group consists first of one regiment of three battalions of infantry whose task is to advance" straight upon their oV jectives, regardless of losses, leaving! the work of reducing our centers of resistance to specialists detachments following them. - These consist, first of one company of storm troops, one and one half machine gun company, a half company of sappers, one de- tachment of liquid flame throwers, half a heav, ytrench mortar company, one battery light'trench mortars, and two batteries of what is called infan try guns. In reserve come the third infantry regiment and a division of five tanks of British origin and an independent group cnosisting of two cyclist companies and one company of storm troops. "This division is supported by 12 batteries of field guns and six of heavy artillery, including a battery of eighif-inch Howitzer. , -.. "According to prisoners . a numDer GERMAN DIVISIONS nHal liirht trench mbtar detach-W11' ments, known an' infantry artillery, J -! equipped with two light trench mor tars of a new model mounted on spe cially high wheels, supposed to be capable of firing 20 rounds a minute against tanks or other obstacles. Tne personnel of each detachment com prises two officers and 40 men. "It is apparent from the forego ing that the whole appartus for de stroying our centers resistance has been relegated to the second line the celebrated storm troops, sappers with explosives and light trench mor tars instead being first to follow aft er the waves of infantry have swept over the position. The mission of these specialists remains the same. They clear the trenches, reduce strong points, bomb recalcitrants from dugouts, but while they are do ing this the battle is sweeping further at any rate, In anticipation." British Took Prisoners. Londpn, April 2. In the sector be tween the Avre and Luce rivers yes terday the British took 50 'prisoners, the War Office .anonunces. Thirteen machine guns were captured. COTTON SHIPMENTS. Bryant Writes of Conorete Shipbuild ing Locally. "Writing in the Charlotte Observer, H. E. C. Bryant, of Washington, has the following to say1 concerning cot ton shipments through Wilmington and concrete shipbuilding locally: "Director General McAdoo has or dered 18,000 bales of cotton shipped through Wilmington. More will go through that port as soon as this lot is handled. "Matthew Hale is here again to see about contracts for. ships' at Wilming ton. If his cement ship, now being constructed at Brunswick, Ga., proves a success he will construct others at Wilmington if it can be arranged." INJURED TUESDAY MORNING. Slipped on Stairway and Fell to Bot tom of Mill Race. Mr. Joseph Everett escaped serious injury in a miraculous manner Tues mnminc about 10:30 o'clock via j - c , when he lost his footing m descend ing the stairsteps at Greenfield Mill and fell headlong to the bottom of the mill race. Unconscious, Mr. Ev. erett was gathered up and removed to safety by friends, later being car ried to the home of Mrs. Home 510 Church street. But for the presence of friends, Mr. . Everett would have met death by drowning, as his fall was of snfficjnt force to render him unconscipus. General French Discharged. Washington, April 2. Major Gen eral Francis H. French commanding the 31st division, National Guard, at Camp Wheeler, Macon, Ga., is honor ably discharged because of physical disability as a major general of the National Army, by orders vjssued to Hav. He is ordered to remain tempor arily in command of the 31st division, and .when- relieved his . rank will re turn to that of Brigadier, General in the re?Sr.army. y ' I i . . HEAVY PENALTIES FOR DISLOYALTY. Washington, April 2. In favor ably reporting a bill to impose drastic penalties on disloyal acts, the Senate Judiciary Committee today adopted an amendment .by Senator Poindexter of "VVashingto, prescribing imprisonment for 20 years and $10,000 fine for "who ever shall by word or act support or -favor the cause of the German empire or its Allies in the present war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein. The committee also approved tho same penalties for persons ob strucing government war bond is sues and for wilfully "attempting" as well as actual attempts, to ob struct recruiting or enlistment in the army. A Volunteer Vigilance Cornmit-i tees Look After . Ohio's Disloyal Citizens Columbus, O., April 2. Growing ac tivity against pro-Germanism was marked in Ohio by work of volunteer vigilance committees in half a dozen cities last night. At Fremont, Fred Kolbe, tailor, was rescued from a mob. Lynching was threatened when he refused to kiss tb&,American flag, the police arriving toJxim FredencBoU-i dtor of a German paper, and numerous others were made to pub- licly show evidenceof their patriot ism. 'More than 100 steel mill em ployes took William. Zerbe, one of their number, to the public square in Canton and ofrced him to salute and kiss the colors, after alleged un patriotic remarks. Three hundred persons in 60 auto mobiles - visited 30 homes of alleged pro-Germans in the Coshocton neigh borhood and compelled heads of fam ilies to denounce the Kaiser and to salute and kiss the ag. Doors were broken in at several homes and a fire company was called to aid in getting one family out. A patrol car of po lice officers tried unsuccessfully tu break up the. mob. At a meeting last night, the Columbus Board of Educa tion ordered teaching of German in all city schools to be stopped at once. Baseball Club House Burned. Nashville, Tenn., April 2. The club house of the Nashville Southern As sociation basebal lteam burned last night. With the club house were de stroyed 20 uniforms, balls, bats, gloves and other paraphernalia. The value of the equipment is estimated at 2,000. The fire is supposed to have originated from a stove .used to heat water for the shower baths. WU1 VOTERS AT POLLS EARLY TODAY Heated Senatorial Contest Be" tween Lenroot, Davies and Berger Milwaukee, Wis., April 2. Early voting in the special" senatorial elec tion in Wisconsin which is to deter mine who shall fill the vacancy in Congress caused by the death of Sen ator Paul Hustlng, was unusually heavy. In the cities the polls open ed at 6 o'clock and it was in those centers where heaviest voting had been recorded. Unsettled weather and possible showers were the forecast for the day. 0T The Senatorial candidates are Con gressman .Irvine L. Lenroot, Republi can; Joseph E. Davies, Democrat and Victor L. Berger, Socialist. Democratic leaders claim that the cities will go heavily Democratic and overcome Lenroot's strength in, the country. Berger predicted a Social ist landslide in Milwaukee and said he would pick up enough votes in the German counties along the shore of Lake Michigan to elect him. - ! THE EIGHTH LONG RANGE BOMBARDMENT Paris, April 2. The eighth long range bombardment of Paris began at 10:10 o'clock today 'When a projectile exploded in the' region of the city.f GROWING ACT1TY AGAINST PR0NS i T 4 ONLY RESULT. WAS HEAVY CASUALTIES Attack Made in Full Marching Order Each Man Carrying Rations for Six Days and . Extra Clothing British Headquarters in France, Moniay. April 1.- 'The German at tack along the 'Scarpe river on March 28 had as its objective the 'city of Arras and the formidable Vimy Ridge. Careful plans were laid to carry out this ambition and the attack was sup ported by a veryjieavy assault south and southwest of Arras, units of at least 11 German divisions being em ployed here. It may .be seen-therefore, that the tne main result they achieved was to swell the already great number ot casualties. At about 3 o'clock on the morning of the - 28th, German artillery of all calibre opened a terrific bombard ment against the British positions. It was obvious the enemy intended to attack and at 6:4.0 o'clock the Brit ish gunners unloosed an avalanche of steel against, every known place of assembly the Germans; might be us ing. s Shortly after 7 o'clock the enemy advanced. They came forward slow ly and deliberately in full marching order. E&6h infantrymen carried ra tions for i six days, 'two blankets and an extra pair of boots, indicating that e attack was in deadly earnest. The company commanders were mounted and the infantry was followed closely by the artillery .'o xtre North, the "storm -cen ter lay between Gavrelle and Oppv, khe Germans pivoting on Oppy. The Germans lost terribly in the heavy fighting which lasted all day, during which the British fell back to a line between Bailleul and Willerval. The German attacks against the positions were futile. Elsewhere north of the river the British stood their ground and pushed forward slightly Friday and Saturday. South of the Scarpe, the Germans were held up for a time by a divi sion which had been engaged against them for the previous week. After the first day the division retired somewhat and later was compelled to fall back behind Neuville-Vitasse on acount of pressure to the south. ROYALIST AGENTS WERE PUT TO DEATH Athens, Saturday, Varch 30.- Lieutenants Calamaras and Hodjopou- las, who came to Greece, recently, on a German submarine as agents of for mer King Constantine , were con demned to death by a courtmartial and the sentence was carried out to day. Their lawyer, M. Conoupis, also received their sentences. Two officers, after receiving in structions at Zurich, Berlin and Vienna, came to Greece in an enemy submarine from Pola with a letter from former King Constantine and plans to arrange a system of espion age and to establish a naval base. Conoupis was intermediary in the mat ter. A sister of Lieutenant Calama ras was scatenced to life imprison ment and a peasant was given 15 years for harboring the lieutenants. A royaL courtmartial has been di rected to prosecute Captain PaparrL gopoulos, former aide de camp, to King Constantine, who is said to have arranged for the visit of the lieuten ants, and Kolidyas Capchiefst, who also aided in their plans. NEW RECORD IN MILK PRODUCTION Sacramento, Cal., April Raphael la Johanna Aaggie, a Holsts-in at the Napa State Hospital, has broken the world's record for milk production in 30 days, it was announced here today by the State board of control. - Her record was 3,794 pounds, ot 1,897 quarts, in a month. The previous high figure for 30 days is said to have been 3,767 pounds. The production of the cow at current prices would total $208 for te month. JAPAN TURNS OVER SIJIPS TO AMERICA Tokio, Wednesday, March, 27. The amount of tonnage to be turned over to the United States by Japan under the arrangement made by the Japa nese shipping commission is estimat ed by the press at about 250,000. Of this ,150,000 tons will be provided by the government and the remainder by shipbuilders in exchange for Ameri can steel. An official announcement will be made soon. " f ARE TO BE RUSHED THE ARRIVAL OF E Placing of American Brigades on Battle Front ari His toric Action LONDON NEWSPAPERS GROW ENTHUSIASTIC Decision of President Wilson Will Not Be Forgotten by Frenph anri British, Say Morning Papers London, April 2. The decision to place American units in brigades with French and British .battalions for im mediate participation in the fighting on the Western front is greeted by the morning newspapers as a historic action. The Daily Telegraph says: "The part played by President Wil son in the deliberations which ended in the decision will not be forgotten tby those peoples ofEurope which al ready owe so much to ms strong anu resourceful statesmanship." The Daily Chronicle says: :"The fine spirit shown by the Unit- ed, "States throughout this "crisis" has Deen tne source or utmost encourage ment and moral support to her allies in Europe. Nowhere has the lesson of Brest-Litovsk been more clearly read than in America and nowhere is the absolute need for defeating im perial Germany more distinctly realis ed." "It proves," says the Daily Express, "that America is in the war for vie tory and it is additional evidence of President Wilson's idealistic states manship." "The spirit in which this measure has been taken by America," declares the Morning Post, "deserves, as -it received, the fullest recognition both in France and this country and that it will have its weight in Germany too we cannot doubt." The Times says: "It seals the bond of brotherhood which unites the European Allies with the United States in the common cause Of civilization . "This distribution of a portion of its units, even though expedient, will be only temporary and implies a spirit of chivalrous sacrifice in the face of staring necessity. It is no mere paper decision because American units al ready are mingling with our armies in the battle line and we are confi dent that the experiment will produce the happiest results." SECRETARY BAKER NOW IN ITALY Rome, April 1. (Monday) Secre tary Baker is expected here tomorrow from the Italian front. He will be accompanied by Ambassador Page. Mr. Baker will see Premier Orlando, Finance . Minister Nitti, and General Zuppelli,' minister of war, while here. Ambassador Page will give an of ficial dinner in honor of the Secretary who will leave Rome Tuesday night for Paris. NEW INDICTMENTS AGAINST CRENSHAW Charlottesville, Va., April 2. A new indictment against S. Dabney Cren shaw IV, of Richmond, charging him with the theft of $2,000 worth of plat inum and other articles from the Uni versity of Virginia laboratory, which building was destroyed by an incen diary fire January, 1917, has just been returned by a special grand jury. Judge John J. Fishburne set AprilJJ9 as the date for the trial. WEn Clrerjshaw was haled to court last month for his second trial it was re ported that the "indictment (charging hm with setting fire to the universi ty laboratory to . hide the theft had been lost. A certified copy of the in dictment was supplied yesterday aft erndtan by Commonwealth-s Attorney Duke. . ANOTHER POWERFUL GUN. Lisbon, Portugal, April 2 Be nito Caeiro, a Portuguese engineer, -is said,' by the Seculo to have, in vented a gun which will throw a shell 90 miles. AM AN UNITS WARMLY GREED BATTLE PLANNING TO MERGE t E All Put Under One New Cor- t portation Operated as a Unit Washington, April 2. Merging of the express companies under a new corporation to operate them as a unit and work. out a basis for distribution of . profits Js under consideration be tween the railroad administration and representatives of the companies. Some announcement is expected with in a week. Conclusion of an agreement has been held up, it was learned today, by difficulties in developing a plan for apportioning the stock of the hew company, which would have virtually a monopoly of express business m the United States. . The raibroad uiinis tration would make a contract vith the single company for hauiii ex press matter, taking approximately half of the transportation receij'x. The capitalization of the new com pany als is the subject of consider able difference of opinion. The four leading companies Adams, American, Wells-Fargo and Southern caim a physical valuation of their transporta tion property of approximately $30, 000,000. In addition, several million dollars cash for operating would be required. The express companies and some railroad administration advisors advo cate higher capitalization with allow ance for good will and other intangi ble assets. FIERCE FIGHTING" v IN THE CAUCASUS Petrograd, Monday, April 1. Fiefce fighting has broken out in the dis tricts of Batoum, Kars and Ardaham, in the Caucasus. The Armentians and Georgians have formed a large army for the defense' of the territory against the Turks who have begun military occupation of the three dis tricts by virtue of the Brest-Litovsk peace treaty. The Georgians have seized most of the Russian warships in the harbor of Batoum and have taken them into the Black Sea. The entire population of Georgia has been mobilized to oppose the invaders. MYSTERIOUS EPIDEMIC AMONG FORD WORKERS Detroit, Mich., April 2. Officials of the Ford Motor Company this after noon confirmed a report that more than 200 men have been affected daily by a mysterious epidemic re sembling grippe, which has been prev alent in the plant. It was estimated that about 2,000 employes have been ill thus far. ; MEET LEADERS Trying' to Adjust Strike Dif ferences at Norfolk's War Plants Norfolk, Va., April 2. Government officials in charge of army and navy construction work in the Hampton Roads district, including Major H. B. 3itchell, representing the War De partment', were this morning in con ference with union labor leaders here on the action of the 4,000 carpenteia and metal trades workers in laying down their tools and tying up im portant war operations at the Bu3h Bluff terminal, the army and navy bases, Lambert's Point,, the navy yard, the St. Julien Ammunition depot and Langley Aviation' iFeld in Hampton. Although government officials .here declined to comment on their contem plated action in the conference, it was regarded - as not improbable that the result would influence the men to return to their work. A number of the strikers returned to work this morning and others are expected to do so duringthe day Officials of the local draft boards are .awailjng instructions from Wash ington before taking any action as to changing the classification of strikers subject to draft. They j explain that a majority of the strikers have been given deferred classifcation by boards in . their home States and others in class A are subject to call whenever needed. Local labor leaders are unanimous in denouncing the walkout of carpen ters, electricians, plumbers and pile driver engineers and clai mthat the strike was-not authorized. XPRESS cons GOVERNMENT AGENTS LA FRONT Men in Training Here to Bo Sent Over Regardless of Proficiency ENGLAND TO PROVIDE ALL HER TRANSPORTS Every Available Ship Will, Bo , Put to Carrying Troops-r- . Will Be Fed Into British and French Armies Washington, April ?. The an nouncement from London that Amer ican units are to be brigaded with British and French organizations was interpreted by army officers here to- uttj txo iuuiva.iiu mux tuts u uucu States government is ready to thrust . - . " " asiae au questions or national prrae. - in placing American power at .ins Immediate disposal of the Allies. The plan was decided on at confer ences between Secretary Baiter and Generals Bliss and Pershing and Brit ishand French officials. So far as known, the War Department had not been officially .inormed of it today. Details of the method to be follow ed are not available and presumably will be arranged by General" Pershing. There was every indication, however, that American troops now in training, here are to be rushed across regard' les of their proficiency. The British statement carefully rotes that, the national asrr.t. of Ren. eral Pershine's armv is not to be im- '- Hf ft J paired. . The building up of that cure- 1 ly American war machine will pro--r. '' fefC? plement that effort, however, other-, American units will be fed to tne front through the French and Brit ent craer - , ish lines to meet the present gency. Arrangements for the transoorta uon ot tnese aaamonai iorces, ins rsnusn statement saiu, are now De ing completed." This was regarded here as an in dication that the full -extent of Brit ish troop ship capacity is to be de voted to taking forward American, units and insures, it is said, the early: delivery in Europe of at least double A A 1 . T .1 ? 1 t M I Y 'l ' the American man-power that could vyif have been ' forwarded in the sam ; -.'!;:; i time otherwise. It was noted that the statement pointed out that he American forces merged wih the British and French are to be wtihdrawn when their train ing is completed and "General Per-" shine wishes to withdraw them to build up the American army." ' Toi jf?7 many omcers uerts, nuwever, me pic ture presented after active operations is one of French-American and British-American units of the French and British armies in which the. tndividu- - ai soldiers win De so intermixed ma it will be impossible to wthdraw them, without disintegrating the divisions or brigades: What efforts may be made to keep V ' l?i a purely American unit in a veteran' ; " ' Mk j division of one of the other armies, ; 'T.hj officers say, the exigencies ,of con. ; ;V' let and the problem of replacing" losses will lead to the creation ' ulti-C-.-' : than of divisions, composed of French; and American or British and Ameri- ' can units. A complete merging ( of the men is as certain, it is believed as is the complete merging of regular army, national army., and national .-" K- ; guard units in the American army. There is no practical way to avpld-it,' , t L -officers say, without impairing th9i::f efficiency of the entire force. iifil'l There are maily "officers" who be -:- l-NX Heve this is to be the only practical, J solution of the transportation and . y ;vy": supply problems, if American military power is to De maue umneaia.teij-j available to repel the German ' on slaught. THREE NEW YORKERS KILLED IN PARIS Paris, April 2 Further identifies tions show that three members of thm Landpn family oi isew iorK, wno naa -:i been Vesiding in Paris, were killed on, t-.--f Good Friday when a shell from tB;.:-l?!; ,4ong range German gun struck ;vj? church. They were Mrs. Mary G. Lan-' '-c ;j Ann vrifa nf fP.A-ararA TT T.anflnTI. Of1?; ' New York and his daughters, Mrs. Lucy Landon Speed, wife of Captain Ralnh Sneed. of the British army ser-. vice corps, and Miss Ruth Landon. x;ilj -V VA Family of New York Lawyer. New York, April 2. Edward . H.rJf : Landon, whose wife and two dangh j ll ters were killed In Paris when a shell f - -i b from- a long range German gun struck ijtfj a church there on Good Friday,' was .;t 1 a retired New York attorney whoaS; : j . been in Paris -most of the time sinco the war1 started. The family is prom't inent socially in New York and Paris if. V ,! ' SI ?; . .- 1 i Jilt Jap -pis mm Mil 4h mi it , m til ' mi ' -i ri ft urn m s i : It: I . V 1 ;: m , " : . -V t -I a . . - 'f mm . I I :' Mm 'M m S i -ivt - V V - f